The Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 118-107 in the NBA play-in tournament to secure the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed.
Magic capitalize on Hornets’ defensive lapses in fourth quarter
Orlando outscored Charlotte 34-18 in the final period after the Hornets led by nine entering the fourth. Paolo Banchero scored 28 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, while Franz Wagner added 22 points and seven assists. The Magic held LaMelo Ball to 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, forcing him into 10 turnovers.
Orlando advances to face Detroit Pistons in first round
The victory sets up a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, who finished the regular season with the league’s best record. This continues a trend where the eighth seed has faced the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the third consecutive year. Last season, the Miami Heat as the eighth seed lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
For more on this story, see Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets battle for Eastern Conference No. 8 seed.
Hornets’ playoff hopes end after strong late-season push
Charlotte entered the game seeking its first playoff appearance since 2016, having won the season series against Orlando 3-1 with all victories by at least 15 points. The Hornets had defeated the Miami Heat on Tuesday to reach the play-in game but could not sustain their defensive intensity against the Magic’s balanced attack. Terry Rozier led Charlotte with 24 points off the bench.
This follows our earlier report, 76ers and Magic vie for Eastern Conference No. 7 seed.
What does this mean for the Magic’s playoff outlook?
Orlando will now face the Detroit Pistons in a best-of-seven series, marking their third straight postseason appearance. The Magic have not won a playoff series since 2020.
Why did the Hornets lose despite winning the regular season series?
Charlotte’s three regular season wins over Orlando came by an average margin of 18 points, but the Magic adjusted their defensive approach in the play-in game, limiting the Hornets’ transition opportunities and forcing half-court sets where Orlando’s length proved advantageous.